Back to work, feels good!

Dear Family and Friends,
As I write tonight I do so with a sense of satisfaction. This has been a day of success and of feeling pretty good.
6:30 Ken demands we walk faster to avoid freezing, we survive.
8:45 I leave for local ranch appointment, have an enjoyable inspection, collect check!
9:30 Back to the office where production really kicked in. Jean had expertly written several appraisals and they were back for final review and shipping. I must have emailed 6 or 7 out to lenders, took calls and worked through several important items on my desk.
1: pm I leave for Tracy and my appointment with Dr. Makker. I felt almost foolish going as today I finally began to feel normal and energetic. He listened to my lungs, said they were clear and said I was recovering well, yes I coughed a few times but he was not that impressed. While there I also signed up for his in office fitness and weight program and will start on the 6th. It sounds really good.
2:10 I leave for San Jose and realize I've forgotten to have lunch. I plan to stop in Livermore for a burrito but am on the phone to someone and miss the turn so I drive on to South San Jose and my 3:30 appointment. The inspection goes well, nice lady and her son, attractive townhouse in a nice development. Shoot comps and make contact with the San Jose MLS board. I learn that I've signed up for the wrong thing and need to drive to the right office by 5 pm to sign up correctly and I also learn it will be over $500. Yikes. The GPS directs me to the front door and at 4:57 I arrive in the office. I'm told its too late but they print off the forms and I leave. By now I'm really hungry so I GPS for the nearest Olive Garden. I'm told its in Fremont and in a short time I'm munching salad, soup and bread, sipping peach ice tea and starting to feel human again.
I leave for Discovery Bay and stop in Livermore for fuel, $2.15 a gallon for diesel, not bad and I learn I've just gotten 45 miles per gallon. Nice! Its a clear night and I'm feeling no pain, then I cross the ridge on Vasco Road and descend into dense fog everywhere. Of course someone feels his headlights need to be planted on my bumper but I pay him no mind. When I reach Discovery Bay I turn to the RV parking lot and pick up the motorhome. It roars right into life and I fill it with just $52 dollars. I had 30 cents off per gallon at Safeway so I purchased fuel at $1.49 a gallon. Then I put it away and drove home to discover a check in the mail and San Jose had given me a check also. yes I can make the house payment tonight, thank you Lord!
These are the days of one who owns a small business, you work when there is work, you don't even consider taking a break or quitting early, there is work to do after all. And there are rewards too, many of them.
So my friend as the year counts down I'm feeling good. For a lot of reasons I'm hopeful and thankful and feel like things might just be turning a bit better. I hope that is true for you too.
I would like to ask for your prayers for Keanna, she is so sick and feels rough.
So goodnight all,

love from my house to yours,

Tim

Busy again, still coughing

Dear Family and Friends,
What a blessing life is and this evening as I dined with Kallie, Keanna and Nikki at LaVilla in little Bethel Island I just had a slice of the really good life. These precious girls are so bright, no engaging and so fun to be with. None of us felt really well, Keanna is battling a nasty cold, Kallie is a tiny bit stuffy and Nikki is also battling a runny nose and of course there is Mr hack hack pappa. Yet in spite of not feeling great we enjoyed our pink lemonades and little burrito dinners, Keanna had rice and Kallie had some sort of pudding which she seemed to enjoy. Nikki brought the little high chair device that attaches directly to the table, has no legs and holds the baby securely. Kallie enjoyed it a lot. She loves to sit up and be apart of what is happening and she also enjoys smiling at anyone who will look her way.
I started my day with Ken at 6:30 this morning. It was cold, intensely so and dark when we started. Only crazy people do such things but as we walked we warmed and the morning light began to break around us. I only coughed once but the cold caused some mid level pain in my chest. I managed it fine and then came home to sit in the recliner under a blanket and watch as the fire warmed the room.
After breakfast of oatmeal, flax seed, rye toast and stripples I headed out to Lodi to do a construction inspection. The foreman is such a nice person and makes the inspection enjoyable. Then I left and drove to Rio Vista where I had a quick bite for lunch and then drove to Brentwood to see a bank owned home. It was a beauty and had a black bottom pool with waterfalls. Then it was home to the office for a few minutes and then back to a newly completed 1.7 million dollar home here in Discovery Bay. It is a masterpiece and has nice touches like a pizza oven on the back deck as a part of the exterior kitchen, a firepit filled with shattered heat treated glass, 7 flat screens, several fireplaces, a master bath with 8 shower heads, incredible attention to detail in the trim, kitchen appointments, fixtures, high ceilings, crown moldings, just an amazing home. Its great fun to inspect such a house. Then it was time for me to come home to my humble abode, be greeted by the dogs, begin doing laundry and start working through a 5 inch pile of paper and files on my desk. I'm about to head to bed and the pile is about half as deep now.
I've called for another doctor visit tomorrow as I'm not well, still coughing and in general not feeling well. In the morning I inspect a local farm, then back to the office for some work, then to Tracy for Dr. appointment with Dr. Makker and then a quick trip to San Jose to see a property there. My friends urge me to just stay in and rest up. I'd love to do just that but right now I'm blessed with the biggest work load I've had all year and I simply cannot let this opportunity pass by and let all these people who are trusting me down. So I try to do a blending of rest and work, sip water and work.
So my family and friends as we draw close to the end of this year and move into 2009 we face intense challenges and great opportunities. What does the Lord really have in mind for each of us for this coming year? What do we need to learn, to experience, how can we better help those who are hurting, hungry, deprived?
God will lead us if we will follow and trust. He is a parent God who wants us to do our best and then better and better. None of us are too old to learn something new, to experience new relationships, even the challenge of having new pastor who happens to be a woman presents us with marvelous opportunities for growth.

So I send my love to each of you, family and friend alike. You are the greatest! I am the luckiest!

love

tim

Mellow day, still sick

Dear Family and Friends,
I'm still sick, coughed more today than yesterday, slept in to an amazing 9:45 this morning. Latest I've slept in for many many years, don't even ask when I finally went to bed last night, it had been such a good day, was hard to let it slip away.
I saw a very cute little condo at 12:30 today for which I was paid on the spot, then drove back by way of Uno's where I had salad and vegetable soup and water. Picked up some dog food, meds and came home to fall into a deep sleep in my work chair. I finally roused later in the day to get some work done and make out a deposit slip. I saw a movie this evening in Tracy, Seven Pounds. Let me just warn you, this is not like any movie you have ever seen before. It only gradually begins to make sense about half the way through but it is an incredible movie experience. It is very well made and Will Smith is at his best and he is very good. Don't see this movie if you want to just escape and have happy thoughts, no this movie is about life and its challenges, about justice and about courage.
Its cold outside tonight and it happens to be cold inside as well. I've not been at home enough today to build a fire so the dogs have survived by the Miller space heater in the family room which warms amazingly well. I have a pug blanket laid on the floor just in front of the heater so they don't have to lay on the very cold floor.
Tomorrow first thing I call Dr. Makker to seek an appointment. I'm not well and this constant coughing is wearing me out, I'm sore inside, my head aches most of the time and its time to take the next step to get some help.
I send my love to all, keep warm and be real good to the ones God has placed near you.

love

tim

That girl can preach...

Dear Friends and Family,
This has been a very nice day. All kinds of good things have taken place and in general I've felt really much better. A few bouts of coughing but nothing like yesterday. Let me share the way this day progressed. 7 am, walk around the lake in the freezing air with Ken and watch the beautiful sunrise. 9 am, pick up Miss Keanna for Sabbath School. Nikki and Kallie join us at Sabbath School and Emily and Bernice do a great job with leading out. Kallie is fussy so the three of them go to the mall to walk about and I proceed to the worship hour. Sylvia delivers an excellent sermon that is well prepared and professionally spoken. She rocks! Jason and Joe, Clayton and Timothy have arrived as she began to speak. George and Yvonne, Sylvia and her mom and our family gather at the Olive Garden for a very nice lunch and fellowship. Thanks George and Yvonne! Afterwards the car trade is accomplished and I leave with Jason's Subaru and they leave with the van. I then drive home and finding an empty recliner take a much needed nap. Later I wake and build a fire and in the evening drive to Brentwood for meds but I'm too late and drop by for a minute to see Jean my faithful writer. Then home to tackle the wood pile. Now it is safely stacked in the firewood holder Nikki got me years ago for the back porch.
What a great day with times to think, share, fellowship, eat, praise, sing and see the little kidos in action yet again. Kallie sat in a high chair for I think the first time today and Sylvia's mom helped keep her busy.
Life hands us many hours of loneliness and solitude but those times are offset by precious times with good friends, family and sharing. To hear Sylvia's words of faith and conviction about a God who cares for us as a loving parent in spite of the loss she experienced just a year ago is powerful and moving. To trace God's hand in our lives is a daunting task as we often do not begin to understand until later what He has done and is doing.

I send my love to all,

Tim

Another week draws to a close

Dear Family and Friends,
The weather channel is reminding me of how lucky we have it here in California, my my it might get down to 36 tonight. How does that compare with the temperature outside for you right now? We tend to be whimps out here.
Two appointments came through for this day after Christmas and both paid up front, now that is a blessing. One was a cute little house located in Brentwood and the other was a very nice home located in Dublin. While I was sitting in the bug working on comps here came a little pug walking by with her master. Her name was Cloe and she was so sweet and gentle. It reminded me once again how much I enjoy having Starr and Lady, they are such a comfort and keep the house from being quiet when the hours grow long. After the second appointment I realized that since I was driving the bug I had its old battery in the trunk, it needed to be returned to CostCo for a core charge, sure enough when I came in with the battery they handed me an envelope with just the right amount of money, about $9. While I was there I backed my membership down from the $100 a year membership to the standard membership at $50 and they refunded me the difference. While I was there I decided to look around. Talk about fun. I picked up some items I've considered for months and some cat food for Moomoo and George. It had turned very cold as I drove the little cart to the VW. I quickly loaded the items including a huge package of bottles of water and headed home. It was sort of nice to be back in the bug again today, easy to park, easy to do U turns and easy to park. I found diesel for $2.19 a gallon so the needed fillup did not hurt so bad.
I had the privilege of talking at length with my sister Sibyl this afternoon. She is doing well and regaining her strength after some needed surgery lately. It was good to hear her voice and I hope to be able to visit her this year in Ohio. She is enjoying excellent home health care from Kettering Adventist Hospital and that's great.
Tomorrow Tracy SDA has the honor of a guest speaker, Sylvia Ahn. I happen to know she has worked very hard on her prep and I know it will be the message God has in mind for us all. I'm looking forward to seeing Jason and Jo who will come for church. Keanna and I are going to Sabbath School providing we can both get up in time. Ken, faithful coach has said we are walking in the morning so at 7 we will be hitting the pavement. Brrrr. Out comes the gloves, the hat and the coat.
One wonders if the cold air will help or hurt the ongoing illness I'm experiencing. I've coughed a great deal today and finished the last two pills from the antibiotic bottle this morning. I still have plenty of puffs in the inhaler. We will see what happens next. I think I'll go back to the doctor next week to follow up since I'm not getting well as both doctors expected.
Ken called this evening with a strange tale. As he was pulling up at his house he looked over to see a pickup in front of my house and someone attempting to steal wood from my meager pile in the driveway. Can you imagine that, taking wood. I'd sure like to know who needs my wood more than me! This evening I have a little fire going and it is so cozy to finish dinner and then sit here in the recliner with the laptop in the atmosphere created by the fire.
Last night I was startled to discover that the electric pad on my bed that had refused to work the other evening had changed its mind and when I causally taped the on button suddenly it worked. Unfortunately I left it set on 3 and all night I tossed and turned not realizing that the heater was set to high. Low is about the right setting and I've already gone up tonight and turned it on. My how pampered one gets with all these devices to help us move through life. GPS systems to guide us, XM to keep Christmas music playing, digital cameras to record our photos without film, microwaves to cook our vegetables, dishwashers to quietly clean the dishes and so it goes. A pampered age for sure.
At this time of year one begins to think about the upcoming year and the resolutions that need to be made, oh there are so many things I could do better, faster, with more depth, with less procrastination, so many. Musts for me include dumping the weight as I move into a more active life style, going to bed earlier, using my time better with less messing around, moving more out of debt and taking advantage of increasing orders and work for the company. Building a deeper spiritual walk with our good Lord who waits to share and guide. Taking care of special relationships with compassion and genuine love, learning to give more than I take, learning to think more of others needs and less of my own. Doing better at helping with the precious kidos.
During 2009 I will get this house painted one way or another. I will open my home more to share the lake with others who might not get to live on a lake. Get out into nature more and use the motorhome for the enjoyment of others. Oh yes, I've no shortage of ideas.
I hope you each have a very good weekend and find a balance between social, spiritual, physical and emotional needs.
Sending love to all,

Tim
Kallie is not feeling well tonight, please say a little prayer for her.

Christmas memories

Dear Family and Friends,

Please indulge me as I share photos from last night with the family.

This morning we had a tasty breakfast of Swedish pancakes and then moved into a magic time of opening gifts and watching the joy in Kallie and Keanna's faces. It was great and wonderful things were shared which range from Tinkerbell to underwear, all much appreciated. I have new slippers, a new sweater, a digital photo frame, new games and a beautiful picture with 4 photos some just taken last night. Nikki must have had a busy night with her trusty printer. Now to find just the right place for it.

After driving back to a very quiet house I stoked the fire and napped for a bit. Ray and Lois came to call with a wonderful set of gifts, a new fire igniter and a wok pan. I've wanted one for a long time and they remembered me mentioning it. I can't wait to give it a try and create tasty meals. After they left I took my lock box key and inspected an empty house for a rush appraisal. Of course the front door lock was totally messed up so I finally found the side garage door would accept the key and was able to complete the inspection through that access. The appraisal is completed and emailed out now. I've not felt good this afternoon, lots of coughing, some head congestion and of course the head ache that comes from the hard coughing. Then there was the VW that would not start and the battery booster was dead, needed to be recharged. Just now at 9:30 I went out into the very cold and windy night and tried again and the good Lord allowed it to start. Then I drove it over to Steve's to hand him a couple appraisal orders and now I'm back getting warm again. Just now I had to carry in more wood to dry by the fire and I think I'm done going out for the night.

I hope you enjoy the photos and I know you have some that are just as cute from your Christmas.

I hope to feel better some day, not sure when. Got to admit it was sort of a blue afternoon, there are times that being alone is just fine and others when being alone is sort of hard to take. I'm so sorry I did not get to see Roger and Carol but they were busy with their precious family and I had been sick for nearly 3 weeks now. Some days I feel almost normal and others get really rough.

I am sending you my best Merry Christmas wishes and hope you bask in the warmth of a beautiful time with family and friends.

love

tim

ps I'm out tomorrow seeing properties again. Frankly I'm glad to have the work but I would sure like to stay home too. On Sabbath we will all have a real treat. Sylvia is preaching for church in Tracy and Jason and Jo are driving up for church so for me its a double treat. Good preaching and family!

A Family Christmas

Dear Family and Friends,
Merry Christmas to each of you where ever you are tonight / morning. As I linger before the fire having listened to the three tenors on PBS and now take a moment to reach out to each of you I do so with an awareness that this Christmas eve is very different. Its a new experience of being here alone after all these years of enjoying this time with Nan. Yet enough time has passed so an internal acceptance has taken place. Our family experienced the unthinkable, we were slammed with a disaster not of our own making.
I have so much respect for my children, through it all they have been solid and just great. They have always struck the right balance between living their lives as normal as possible yet being completely supportive and caring. This evening was a prime example of that. Nikki and Steve welcomed us all into their home which was Christmas decorated perfectly with lights on the outside, a beautiful tree , a great meal and most of all just time to observe the three little kidos mingle and have fun. Timothy is so much fun to watch as he runs, not walks around in his tiny jeans. He was so kind to Kallie and they shared many moments together, Keanna kept them both busy with toys, ideas and excitement and when it came time to open tonight's gifts they took turns opening their little books, toys and fun things. My gift will keep on giving since it is a digital picture frame where family photos can be loaded and the display changes from one photo to the next. It will be great when I get it loaded up with family pictures.
Many pictures were taken and soon I'll have some to share here on the blog. I've long wanted to get a photo of the three kidos with me that I can have on my desk, in the cars and the motorhome. In a special God given way they are the light of my light.
Steve and Nikki did a great job of hosting the evening and I want to express my thanks to them for opening their home.
This morning I woke and decided that once it was 8 am I would call Tracy Honda to see if I could buy two tires. At 7:55 I called and they said bring it in. Well it took a while to get there, I had to eat something and then make a deposit on the way. They were really helpful and eventually decided to honor the $290 price they had quoted me for each tire. About 2 and 1/2 hours later they were done. Sylvia had suggested I could come to her home to wait and so the customer service van delivered me there. That was much nicer than sitting in the little waiting room.
When I returned home this afternoon I set to wrapping presents and Lois was kind enough to assist. Just when I was finally through wrapping the phone rang and it was Nikki saying they were ready for me to come over. Nice timing and thanks Lois for your help and ideas.
Now Christmas eve is history and a great memory of a family caring for each other.
I sincerely hope you are enjoying this season and can be with close friends and family. Take extra time if you plan to travel, winter is really here. My brother called from Weed which is near Mt Shasta and his world is white with deep snow but he is warm and enjoying a great time with family, good food and a new puppy.
So I'm sending love to each and every one of you, life may not be fun or rewarding or even friendly at times but life is still a very precious reality that we get to make decisions about, we can complain or be thankful, be down or search for hope, be alone or reach out to another, hold to faith or despair, plan to help someone, anyone the Lord places within your reach. We can brighten our world by being proactive, by trying, smiling, listening, sharing, we have a chance since we are alive, lets really live!

love

tim

Kids share the magic of Christmas

Dear Ones,

Its late and Ken has suggested that a walk around the lake in the morning would be great medicine. I think he may need therapy! What do you think? So at 6:30 we are going to check the weather to see if the rain is coming down or now.

This day started rough and I suddenly found myself with a head cold this morning, sneezing and stuffy head. I was not ready for that detour. I worked hard on getting a report out this morning and then left on time for Redwood City. I arrived to the minute on time still not feeling very good. What I found was pure magic. The little house had been totally renovated, every inch was perfect, crown moldings, hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, new stucco, new roof, new paint, paver driveway, new kitchen and bathrooms. Wow. I was not prepared for such a find. He said a realtor had dropped by this week and offered $775 as he had a buyer looking. The dad was there and his 5 year old very active and talkative son. He was excited about his remote control train that went around the tree and every room was decorated perfectly for Christmas. At first the guy seemed to be sort of quiet, his first words were look out for the pitt bulls, they are mean, Well great, nice start to the day. In passing he mentioned that he has lost 75 lbs. and that broke the ice. My questions got him talking and he had a lot of great ideas. Drinks 6 bottles of water a day, keeps a few nuts in the truck for snacking, never eats a larger portion than what you could fit in your hand. Very interesting visit.

I was very hungry by the time Jean had given me some new comps over the phone so I asked Ms GPS to find a taco bell. Just a mile away! So I had lunch, do you think it is possible that a Taco Bell located in the middle of richville, I mean everything around Stanford is expensive, that the food at that Taco Bell was made more carefully. My lunch was outstanding. Then I set the GPS for an address in Antioch and started out. Art called and when I mentioned where I had lunch he said he was eating mexican food for lunch too but not Taco Bell, no he went to some fancy place that he has been going to for 30 years, he probably has a dish named after him there, he implied that his lunch was going to be better than mine, elitist! How could anything be better than a bean burrito at TacoBell?

The traffic grew worse as I drove east, people getting away to the mountains for the holiday. I arrived well past the 3 pm appointment but the lady was so nice. I think she was Iranian and so kind and thoughtful. I groaned when I drove up. Mind you I've not felt good all day and now I drive up to the Taj it seems. Two story of course and many different ins and out to measure. You know what you do when faced with something tough, you put on your coat to protect your chest from the cold and you get started and in no time it is done and you are inside in the warmth meeting the little children and seeing a beautiful home of about 3,300 sf. While I was there Nikki made contact and let me know she and the girls would be coming over about 4:30 to 5. Well that sort of lite a fire under me. I decided to shoot the comp photos on another day, my kidos were coming. When I turned onto my street Nikki was right in front of me. We had fun. I started the snow globe so Keanna could see it snow, I got to hold Kallie and see her smile, did puzzles with Keanna and dominos and just enjoyed the moment. All to soon they had to go and I looked at the clock, my desk, opened the mail to discover 3 checks, wow!

I was hungry and made a snap decision to head to Tracy, Olive Garden had soup and salad and then some Christmas shopping. Seeing the kids really helped me feel better and gave me a nice boost. I enjoyed the Christmas shopping very much, hope those on the receiving end will also enjoy. Then as I was driving home I decided to pick up some orange juice and $188 later and more Christmas shopping accomplished I'm home and ready to go to bed. I just had to share the events of the day and the evolving Christmas awareness I experiencing.

Tomorrow evening Jason and Jo are driving up with Timothy and Clayton and we will have a Christmas even at Nikki and Steve's house. It will be so fun to get together again and celebrate Christmas and Jo's birthday as well.

In the morning I am going to try to get Honda to agree to install two new tires on the van. I think my chances are poor since they won't be working a full day and those nasty tires take 4 hours to change. But I'm going to try.

And so I'm wishing each of you a Merry Christmas as you gather in whatever manner your family tradition is, together, sharing, laughing, eating, loving.

love

tim

Not well after all

Dear Family and Friends,
This has been a rough evening with constant coughing. It started to get worse this afternoon about 3 as I was driving back from seeing properties in San Francisco. The weather was crisp but partially sunny while I was there and I enjoyed being in the city. I tried to do some Christmas shopping at the Sun Valley Mall in Pleasant Hill, talk about a downer, I've almost never done Christmas shopping by myself before, was always guided by the professional shopper whether she was in the wheel chair or on foot she knew where to go, what everyone needed and how to work the stores for the best deals, I just felt totally lost and by then was coughing so much it was a challenge to keep going. I managed to locate a few things but finally gave up after I had walked the whole mall. I just wanted to get home but then got an important phone call letting me know that an appraisal I am working on was now needed in the morning and when I opened the old report this evening I discovered it was a multi unit one, much more complicated to produce than a normal report and just to sweeten the deal there have been no sales of similar income properties in the past year in Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood or Byron, only two listings so comps from Livermore will have to be used which is not good at all. Life does get challenging at times. Right now all I really want to do is to sleep, rest and stop coughing. I'm using the inhaler that was to make everything right in two days, NOT and the massive doses of antibiotic that would get me on my feet in a couple days, NOT. Where do I go from here? And Christmas is coming soon.
I was very happy to hear from both Jason and Nikki today, they are always such encouragement.
So could I ask you to pray again. I'd really like to be well again. Tomorrow the only confirmed appointment is in Redwood City at noon. Others may fall in line, we will see.

Rob, the furnace guy came this morning to perform last rites on the furnace. He tweaked it and it started heating but he thinks a retrofit is in order. Replace the important parts that cause a heater to ignite, he thinks the total bill will be less than, $500, oh wow, tires for the van, $290 each and each was totally flat this morning. For awhile I had two pumps working on the tires and they held fine for the rest of the day.

This evening I came in with my meager little pile of Christmas shopping results, knelt in front of the stove and got a fire going, soon the room was up to 68 which felt so good.

Good night my friends and family,

love

tim

What a feeling!

Dear Family and Friends,
Have you had as much fun as I have today. While I can't talk about everything I enjoyed today as its personal I can just state, I'm better. Yes I do have short bouts of deep coughing but inside I feel better, mentally I am hopeful and optimistic again. Ken got this thing rolling by inviting me to join him for a little stroll around the lake, its just 3 miles and well of course the weather is awful but lets go anyway. So at 8:30 wrapped in layers of clothes and even wearing gloves we set out to challenge the forces. At first the coughing was pretty bad but then it cleared up and I enjoyed our walk, I also really enjoyed getting back, sitting in front of the fire and relaxing a bit. I decided it was time to respond to all the wonderful letters and Christmas cards I've been enjoying each day so I found a box of cards, never opened and set to work. I found a gold pen, the family address book and I'm well along with the process. How fun to find a name, mentally enjoy their friendship and memories and then write a few words of cheer and seal up the envelope. Starr and I worked for a couple hours and the fire raised the temperature of the room to a level where I had to open the door and let fresh air in. Even Starr was too hot. Eventually I decided to tidy up a bit, shower, change the sheets, do some laundry and do the dishwasher.
Now I'm clearing my desk and preparing for an exciting winter day tomorrow. Not sure if we will walk or not, have not had the call from Mr. Ken but at 9:30 Santa comes early, well it is actually the heating expert to see if he can do magic on my furnace. Then I must scurry down the road for two San Francisco appointments, then back to Hayward and then perhaps to a mall to do a bit of Christmas shopping, I suppose its time.
I know many of you are enduring some pretty nasty weather, especially in the east. Our 40 degrees does not seem so bad when compared to temps in mid America or in the mountains or even Denver.
I am so thankful to be feeling better, it is a gradual process and the coughing lingers but no longer totally controls me. Now I'll be able to concentrate on Christmas, on the little ones and bringing joy.
And so the cycle of life continues, some days we rush ahead, others we fall back, some days like today we just sort of idle and recollect our bearings, enjoy the warmth, good food, good friends and the opportunity to live yet another day.
So I send my best thoughts and wishes to each of you tonight. Enjoy the opportunity of caring relationships, of seeing joy in little faces, wisdom in senior faces and the hand of God in all that is good.
love to all

Tim

A great Sabbath day, feeling better

Dear Family and Friends,

What an interesting Sabbath day. After a terrible night of coughing and fitful sleep the alarm woke me at 7:30. A long shower improved my mood and I quickly dressed, made oatmeal and drove over to pick up Keanna for Sabbath School. The program was great and the crowd of kids enjoyed it. Then Keanna and I headed over the Olive Garden. As we sat in the van waiting for the door to open she experimented with the climate control and at one point had the rear system at 58 and the front at 75. Cute kid and so bright. Then we went in and found a booth. She handed out stickers to everyone she met and when we left they were wearing their stickers. Kallie and Nikki arrived in a burst of activity. Kallie is no longer the perfect baby who is willing to sleep through anything and just smile. Forget that now. She smells food, she wants to eat, not soon, now. She has turned into a little terror, way to go Kallie. Show us your stuff. I am so thankful that Nikki goes out of her way so often to let me have time with the girls and so I don't have to eat alone. These times are really special.

After lunch I headed home and found checks waiting in the mailbox. Nice. I came in and decided a short nap was in order, the dogs joined me and couldn't figure out why I was getting up a bit later. I decided I needed some fresh air so I dressed warmly including a stocking cap and coaxed the VW back into running condition, searched the garage for items Nikki tells me are there for Christmas and then decided it was time to launch the snow globe, a device Nan and I bought a couple January's ago for a super price. When I opened it last year I found that it was broken and friend Art repaired it. As the season passed the globe's blower line broke so snow no longer fell gently over the three little snowpeople in the globe.

This afternoon I decided to see if there was a way to fix the line. I called Art to inquire about warranty work but he informed me his work was only warranted until the device was turned on. Art guided me to the tiny opening which has a zipper. All interior repair work must be done through this tiny access. I finally located Arts clever repair section from last year. It had finally failed so I replaced the plaster drinking bottle fix of last year with a new fix from a soft drink bottle from Ken's trash next door. That bottle and his duct tape seems to be doing the trick as it blew a steady snowstorm all evening. I've included a photo of the globe in action. OK, now I've decorated for Christmas. Three reindeer lit 24 hours a day and a snow globe, what more could one want?

As darkness fell noise from the lake brought me to the back deck where the boat parade was taking place. It had about 14 boats all lit up and making a loop of the entire 90 acre Willow Lake for all to enjoy. It was great and some boats had music playing as well as many lights and a theme. I've included a couple photos of the boats as they went by.

Unfortunately for me as the evening has passed the the coughing has become very intense again and right now its a mess. I've coughed so much that I've broken out in a sweat from the intensity. Overall this has been a much better day and I am encouraged. Ken just called to see if I wanted to resume walking so at 8:30 in the morning we'll give it a try.

One mystery was solved today. Last evening Lois had warned me that a white truck had been at my house during the day and neither of us could figure out who had been here. This morning Steve mentioned that he had been here yesterday, had put all the dining room chairs back in their places around the table, had cleaned the protein skimmer of the fish tank and had installed the cover on the boat. Here's the bad part. I've been so out of it that I didn't even notice the chairs back around the table, I see the boat cover but for some reason it did not register. Its time to get well and back from lala land. Thanks Steve for all your help.

I bid each of you a warm good night. I only shudder to think of those out on the roads fighting the bad weather. Been there, done that and I'm so thankful to be at home this evening in a house that's 70 degrees.

Love to all,

Tim

ps The first photo is of a fire I had going in the wood stove, doesn't it look warm? It was!

Oh the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful....

Dear Family and Friends,
This evening no matter where you live the weather is fierce. Winter has descended upon us all. Marilyn Titherington said they were getting an inch an hour all afternoon and the snow was beginning to deepen. I worked in sunshine most of the afternoon, cold yes but still bright sunshine.
I had a perfect night with no coughing, a stiff hot shower woke me and then I rushed through breakfast and office work before leaving for Oakland. Traffic was nasty and overhead there was dark gray and sprinkles of rain. The van said it was 48 outside. Finally I passed through the tunnel and moved into bright sunshine on the Oakland side. San Francisco was shining in the distance. My first stop was at a little house, perfect condition and the little lady let me in and said she was heading back to bed. She did just that and so I told her I didn't need a photo of that room, shot my photos of the rest of the house and let myself out locking the door. Some people are really trusting! Then I drove to Tom Perkin's house in the hills, the same hills that burned so terribly a few years ago. Now most lots have new homes of every description jamming the lots, its overkill and not very attractive. Tom's house is very nice, four stories high and then steps lead up the hill at the rear to a deck built at the very top of the lot. There two hammocks swing in the wind. The view from the deck is breathtaking. Panoramic view of the bay, San Francisco, the bridges, wow! But the hike up the steps almost did me in, I was wheezing and coughing. The house is a thing of beauty with views from every room. For the next 2 hours I drove the hills on little one lane roads taking photos of sales, its not something to be rushed and the GPS never led me astray. Upon completion of the comps I then drove to a little house close to the Oakland zoo. It was cute, updated and had some level rooms, some not so level. After shooting the comps for that one I set the GPS for home arriving about dark. How wonderful to be greeted by the dogs, the cat, the messy kitchen and a wood stove filled with coals still red with heat.
I made dinner and used up the last of my bread and a can of wonderful soup Lois purchased last night. Now I've had all pills, 11 in all and one good shot from the inhaler. Unfortunately this evening the coughing has returned with a vengeance and I'm worn out from coughing. I hope to be able to take Keanna to SS in the morning and hear the children's choir for church, it all depends on my wellness level.
I know I am feeling better as I'm starting to have many positive thoughts, looking forward to getting some Christmas cards out the door and even finding the Christmas tree. There's a Christmas globe that needs to be installed in the front yard.

So I will bid each of you good night. May God bless you with health, relationships and love.

Tim

Early blog, I might live

Dear Family and Friends,
Are you staying warm? Kind of hard to see global warming when one checks the weather channel right now!
I'm writing to report that I checked in with Dr. Makker who was Nan's doctor in Tracy. I thought I needed to see a doctor again as I was not getting better and Jim does not see patients after Wednesdays. Dr. Makker listened to my lungs, left the room and came back with an inhaler filled with Synmbicort, budesonide, formoterol fumarate dilydrate to be exact. He had me open and then breath in while he pushed. Its just once in the morning and once at night. I'm to keep taking the antibiotic as well. He said I had bronchitis.
After having a very nice night with very little coughing I rose and decided to honor the appointment in Redwood City. By the time I arrived there I felt pretty rough and after I left the house it got worse. What hit me was low blood sugar but I failed to realize it as I was coughing constantly. When the comps were shot I turned the van to the San Mateo bridge and was very spacey as I drove. I asked the GPS for Olive Garden and it guided me to Hayward where I had not only soup and salad but also manicotti. As I ate I began to feel much more alive and by the time I left while I was still coughing I felt alert and ready to drive to Tracy for a 3 pm appointment with Dr. Makker.
Now I am back home and I've decided to up the anty for getting my furnace fixed. I'm pursuing any and all repair persons, there has got to be a solution to a furnace that lights and heats sometimes and then won't for days or weeks. A number of experts have been here and as each one leaves the furnace is heating perfectly but as soon as the cycle happens and it cools down the next time it tries to light I only get cold air. This has gone on long enough. I have about $100 I can spare for furnace repair right now and if people will pay me that owe me I could afford more.
Nikki and Sylvia have been very helpful today with words of encouragement on phone calls. Very nice to hear calm voices!
So the question arises once again. Do I stay in tomorrow and cancel two appointments that came through today or see these properties and then rest the weekend? I guess I can cancel in the morning if I need to.
Right now I need to carry some wood in and get a big fire going to the dogs can have some real heat, this morning we started at 59 in the family room, not too good.
This evening Roger and Carol are arriving for a visit to see their precious kids in Sacramento. I had hoped to see them but we'll have to see how I feel, really don't' want to share this special bug I have.

So I hope your evening goes nicely. Love to all.

Tim

Still sick

Dear Family and Friends,
I'm doing this early tonight. I just completed an appraisal of a bank owned home in Antioch. New painted interior walls at the expense of the carpet, no drop clothes used, carpet will probably have to be replaced. about 1800 sf on a large lot and selling for $220,000. One wonders where it stops, the slide in values. On this one the current listings are even lower.
While I was in Antioch shooting comps I stopped at Applebees for lunch. Its been months since I've eaten there and their salads are really good. I also had a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato slices. That was nice but then I started to cough even more again. By the time I got home the coughing was pretty bad. Its been bad this afternoon. I finally decided to move ahead and just work so I waded through value checks, conditions and then settled down to writing the appraisal that was needed today. Now it is delivered and I can relax a bit.
I need to make a decision about tomorrow. Right now I have an appointment at 10 in Redwood City. So now I must decide what to do and try to guess how I will feel by morning.
What is pretty nice is this, I sleep fine at night and I woke at 6:05 this morning to go help with the girls, I ended up going over a little later and it was fun to see them play, eat breakfast and head off to school and the sitter. They are so cute and fun.
I'm really banking on this new medicine to curb the infection that is causing this lung and chest problem. So far it just has not happened.
There is an interesting series of events that take place when one has an extended illness. At first you just feel terrible with the fever, then you begin to settle down and consider getting well, then it dawns on you, you are not getting well, the work begins to pile up, the mounds of paper build on the desk, you tend to just grab something quick to eat that does not take a lot of thought or effort, you watch the pantry supplies dwindle, you just know that tomorrow you will be better, your emotions climb and fall, you cough till you are sore everywhere, sometimes you get dizzy and wonder about making sure if you pass out you will be safe, strange times indeed. Tonight I went to the kitchen as the sun was setting and there was a pretty sunset over the island and you just say, who cares, I'll notice that another day when I feel better, the fire has gone out, do I want to take the energy to built it up or just go to bed. I'm sure not the only one to cope with illness and I know many of you are dealing with tough stuff too.
This evening I got a short call from Art, he was calling from Florida on his way home and will be back in Gilroy tomorrow. Welcome home Art and Connie.
Would appreciate your prayers tonight. Sending my best to each of you.

Love

tim

Not getting better, Dr. Jim to the rescue!

Dear Ones,
I'm sorry to report that this afternoon I started to get worse again, more coughing and severe head ache, sore chest etc. It was so discouraging as I woke feeling pretty good after a very good night. Keanna came to visit this afternoon and I am so in hopes that I did not make her sick. She is such a sweet heart and to think of making her become sick, not a pleasant thought.
I've worked in most of the day and kept a fire burning along with a space heater so the house would be warm enough for Keanna. She said it was and played creating a house with blankets and her table. She also made drawings, helped me open a wonderful Christmas basket from the local grief group, snagged all the good stuff for her room and we just had fun. While she was here she had two little cuties, those little orange mandarins, many crackers and two glasses of OJ. The dogs love it when she is here as she is on their level and they are constantly busy with what she is doing. She enjoyed movies supplied by Lois the whole afternoon. Dora the explorer ruled the day. Thanks Lois!
This evening Nikki arrived ready to take Keanna to swimming class and full of shopping stories and Christmas cheer. She is a great daughter and I'm happy with the way she loves her girls, its fun to watch. And speaking of girls, I get the morning delivery route. That means I'm at their house at 6:20 to get them up, feed Keanna breakfast and then deliver them both to school and the sitters on time. Glad the van is working. It would be working even better if I had not run into the side of the garage today and broken the mirror into many pieces. I looked down for a second as it was flashing that the rear tire was in run flat mode and in that split second the mirror hit the side and broke. Bummer, all I could think was what else can happen. Of course when you 've been sick for over a week you tend to get sort of discouraged, well not sort of, real discouraged. Cold, dismal, piled under with work I need to get to but have not been able to get out to see due to illness. What to do first? second? where to go next and will I feel up to it. I finally made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon in Redwood City but in the morning I'll have to put it off a day as I'm just too ill to drive that far, cough meds make me sleepy and spacey a bit.
I hope your days are going by better than mine are right now. I know many people who have been ill for days this winter and hearing about it is certainly different than experiencing it. My close friends urge me to rest and stay in and they are totally right but my clients urge me to get their work done NOW.
This evening I drove to Brentwood in the van, seat heater on high and while I was picking up my Coreg CR I noted that Sandy was there, she is the worlds best pharmacist. When I asked her if I should be better after a week on Levaquin 500 she said I should have been better after two days. She urged me to contact Jim and see if there was something else I could try. So when I reached the van I did call Jim. He is always so kind and took the call. He called in Augmentin XR 1000, two tablets twice a day. Sandy warned me that he had pulled out the big guns and that I would respond rapidly. She also urged that I keep some yogurt going to offset the negative effects of the drug on my GI tract. I also noted on the bottle that it might effect the effects of any birth control meds I was on, that should not be a big problem!! The bottle says the pills have amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. Sound scary. Go get those little bugs in my chest. Go go go.
Well I drove right over to Taco Bell and ordered a bean burrito as they have to be taken with food and within 5 minutes they were in my system. I don't care if I ever cough again, I'm so tired of it, my ears, head, eyes, throat, lungs, guts are all very tired of it. Thank you Jim for your help.
For now I'm heading to bed. Lately I've been getting a couple emails a day mentioning someone is seeking to hook up on facebook. Its sort of fun to see photos of these older people, much older than when I saw them last, so far I've not put a photo out there of myself. What I really want is a photo of the three kidos and pappa. That would be a photo worth sharing.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Muddling through the day but I think I'm better

Dear Family and Friends,
Right now I'm going through yet another long bout of coughing my guts up, head is swirling, ears are hurting and each breath comes with a rattle. However most of the afternoon has found me doing better. I've worked all day and well into the evening on one appraisal, the one for a ranch in Oakdale and now its gone to the lender. This evening I've been happy to hear from Dolly, Shawn, my brother Jerry and earlier Nikki and Jason.
I slept very well last night and woke up rested, that is until I stood up and started to cough. After a good hot shower I came down and have stayed in my slippers all day. I built a warm fire and managed to include 1 and 2/3 cup of water with my oatmeal this morning instead of the 2/3 cup it needed. To say it was watery would be understatement, could waste it though. For lunch I had a griller by Safeway and this evening a tomato sandwich. The highlight of the day was running the dishwasher and getting not one but two checks in the mail today, wow, that is a first for a very long time.
This afternoon my computer just quit working, Jim was trying to do a quick fix of something by remote and for awhile we thought the hard drive had quit. Finally after an hour of repairs and $95 later it works again, I was so grateful for that. Work is sort of backing up on me right now, Jean has done her part and now its up to me to get things out the door and then go see properties again. Just hope I feel better in the morning.
Today was a sad and memorable day. One year go Dr. Steve Ahn died as he was resting at the hospital after delivering a little baby. All day I today I have thought of the hundreds of happy encounters with this fun loving and deeply caring guy, a marvelous human being who just seemed to love everyone. He lived with an enormous curiosity, always asking questions, reading, learning, trying new things, collecting, photographing. There really was only one Steve Ahn and we are all so much the poorer for losing him at such a young age. I know this has been a day of remembering for Sylvia and the boys, a day you can't avoid, a day you just have to live through.
Thank you for your prayers for my health and I sincerely hope I can resume a normal life and schedule soon.

love to all

Tim

Another sick day

Dear Family and Friends,

Its Sunday evening and I'm sitting in the recliner with faithful side kick Starr who is quietly snoring. I'm going through yet another extreme coughing session. Just when it feels like something is ready to break loose it does not so I just cough and cough. I went back this evening and purchased long acting Mucilex, 12 hour pills. I hope it helps. This morning after an extremely good night with almost no coughing I woke, showered and felt pretty strong pains in my middle back and chest. Gradually the hot shower water melted away the pain and after a quick breakfast of oatmeal and stripples I headed to the garage where I found the van had two low tires. So I took a minute to use the little pump to add needed air. I've found I start the pump and then jump back into the warm heated seat and wait until the warning light on the dash goes out which tells me the tire is now up to normal pressure wise. Then I jump out and throw the pump back into the car, today I've had to do that twice as it was so cold and nasty that the tires kept losing air. Sooner or later I'll need to purchase two tires, after all they are only $290 each, what a deal! But driving the van is worth it right now, warm, secure and comfortable. At the present time I'm listening to a spy story on 10 CDs. Its one of those stories that really grips you, makes it hard to leave the car.

This morning I saw a beautiful property with dozens of trees, horse stalls, beautiful setting and several acres. Then I traveled several miles shooting photos of the comps before heading home. At that point Nikki called and we hatched up a plan to meet in Tracy at the Olive Garden for lunch. It was a nice break in a day of cold rain and wind to have a warm lunch with family and friends. While we were eating my phone rang. With the noise of the patrons all around I could not hear but the person calling was patient enough to stay with me until I found a quiet corner in the bar. It was a return call from a person buying a home that I had seen on a rush basis on Friday. He was calling wanting to pay for the appraisal. So on the spot I took his address which was in Oakley and after leaving Tracy drove directly to Oakley, picked up the check, went to Longs to get meds which won't be ready until tomorrow and then drove to Nikkis to watch the girls while Nikki went for a few groceries. They were playing quietly and Keanna brought me a cutie, the great tasting little mandarin orange fruit. The fruit was so sweet and tasty as Keanna and I enjoyed snacking.

Now I'm home and finally relaxing after the long day.

So now we all move to the new week. What will it be like. I hope for health, for positive moments of joy, for positive relationships, for success.



love to all



Tim

Still sick

Good evening all,

This was a low energy day. I sat with Starr and watch two worship services plus lots of Christmas music on the christian dish and drank hot tea. Of course the moment I came down I made a roaring fire in the stove which brought the house up to 70, that felt great. At around 12:30 I decided to drive the van up to Lammerdings in Sacramento to deliver their present and in exchange they fed me lentil soup. They also blessed me with some Christmas gifts, photos, a huge jar of apple sause and a nice can of chili plus a helpful box of sees candy. As the day began to darken I headed back home. In the van I kept the seat heater turned on and it felt great on my back. I stayed at 65 mph and the van reported mileage of 25, not bad at all.

Dr. Jim called to check up on me and urged that I use the decongestant and use the cough medicine on a regular 4 hour basis. When I got home I started both. The evening has been miserable with intense coughing which then causes severe head ache and ear ache.

I have to be in Oakdale at 10 in the morning so I'm heading to bed early tonight to get some rest. I'm growing very tired of being sick and being in pain caused by the incessent coughing. Something has to give, I'm not better.

I've included a photo of Barb and Gerry and Marilyn Bitzer who is Barbies sister. She lost Cal several year ago to a cancer tumor and we often email knowing how to communicate. She has been a huge supporter to me over the past year.

So I send my love to all, I continue to seek your prayers, I am so tired and worn out and I sure appreciate the kind calls from family and close friends.

love

tim

Ill

Hi
The good Lord brings us to Friday night again and we are thankful.
This evening has been comfortable with some really terrific music on the Hope Channel and now thought provoking preaching. Starr and I have sat in the family recliner watching the flames burn brightly bringing much anticipated warmth to the room as Keanna and Kallie came to visit. The a tasty dinner of Safeway style griller, tomato slice, whole wheat buns and broccoli soup. Then the coughing began again and barraged my poor body for over 30 minutes before settling down, now the coughing is back again.
Unwilling to spend the day locked inside I ventured out this morning for a Brentwood appraisal, then on to a Oakley appraisal of a pathetic little house, it needs love badly, then on to Antioch to see yet another empty house and then back to Brentwood to see a fine Victorian used by a local business. By that time I felt pretty worn out from coughing but also had less head ache. Upon arriving in Discovery Bay I filled the van with $1.59 fuel thanks to a Safeway discount. At home I decided to find fire wood. A short stop by the bank for a deposit of checks in the mail and then down the road searching for firewood. Sure enough a little trailer was parked by Bordon Junction and $60 brought a little pile of wood to my driveway. Since I was in the mood and felt up to it I began to carry loads of wood into the house and filled areas on both sides of the wood stove. Then I began to settle down, paid some bills on line and then built a fire. What pure joy to have good dry hardwood and what heat it created. The dogs approve, the cats approve and I approve.
I've been advised by my health guru, Sylvia, don't come to church but instead stay in and stay warm, drink lots of fluids and rest up. I actually consider that to be very solid advice. Something needs to change, I can't remain at this level of illness day after day. My body aches from coughing, my throat is raw, my lungs feel like a sponge, my ears ring and radiate with pain and nothing is getting coughed up. How long can this last?
I was so glad to see my girls and when I heard they were coming I hurried out to get the deer that had been laying in my front yard on their feet, plugged in and ready. Keanna loved the deer so mission accomplished on that score.
So dear friends, please pray for healing for me. I've been sick for so long moments between coughs seem like heaven, peace.

love to all

Tim

Back to work, Steve has birthday!

Good evening,
As I write my head is one mass of pain, hours of coughing build up to a neck and head that feel like they are exploding. Yet sometimes minutes go by with no coughing at all. Am I better? I'm not sure.
Deciding I could wait no longer I planned a day out today and wanting as much comfort and a heated seat I took the van. That was a great decision as it drives easily, smoothly and I stay warm and comfortable, when I needed to rest I pulled over and put my head back. First I headed to Oakland where I inspected a very cute, well maintained little house with perfect landscaping, updated interior. I was there to determine a current value for the Hope for Homeowners FHA loan program. For people who stand to lose their house this is an alternate plan. A new loan of 90% of the new appraised value will be granted to the present homeowners which in many cases will allow them to remain in their homes. After completing that inspection I then drove to a nearby part of Oakland to take two photos to replace two in an appraisal, the underwriter did not like the photos that had been included. Then I drove to yet another part of Oakland to shoot comps for an inspection I made a week ago. Then I drove to Hayward to do the same, shoot comps for a property I had already seen last week. Then as I started home Nikki called to say they might want to meet up at Cattleman's Steak House in Livermore. We usually go there for STeve's birthday and its that time of the year again. So we ended up meeting there for a very tasty dinner and I got to see the girls again after almost a week. They were both full of smiles and adventure.
Now I'm home and so are they and its time to head to bed. I keep hoping for a quicker recovery but so far things are happening very slowly. My lungs were pretty full of bad stuff and even though the antibiotic is killing the bad stuff getting it out involves coughing it up and that is not happening very well.
I'm very thankful to be home tonight, to have sat in a heated seat all day and to have had a safe trip through a wide variety of neighborhoods. It was just great to meet up with the kids and have a meal together. I heard from Art which was a real shock. He and Connie are doing well on their trip to Costa Rica and will be back sometime next week.
I am going out again tomorrow to see properties as they are stacking up a bit since I've been ill. Please pray for me, I'm trying to hold it all together but I just feel really lousy and can hardly think clearly. I will be very thankful to get through this without damaging my body, I just don't know how much a person can cough without hurting something.

Sending love to all,

Tim

another rough one

Dear Family and Friends,
What a day! I've coughed more and deeper than ever in my whole life. Glad no one had to listen or put up with the noise. I had a good night last night and I've got to believe the vicks on the feet helped. I woke feeling better but that was short lived. Shortly after I got vertical the coughing started. It hits for 5 or 10 minutes of constant coughing and then finally I have some minutes of relief. The day started with unhappy clients but ended with a huge compliment from a different client, Judy passed that one on to me this evening and it felt so good to hear that someone "knew my work", was pleased with the appraisal and was glad to work with my appraisal. I have to be honest, while I stayed in the chair at my computer all day other than making brief meals I did not produce a lot of work. I wrestled with value checks, did conditions on prior appraisals, attempted to make appointments with as few words as possible and was relieved to realize that the work day was over. For fun I backed the limping van out of the garage and used two little power air pumps to take the tires from 0 to 40 lbs. Then after making a few phone calls I determined that the best price for tire replacements was Tracy Honda at $290 for each tire. Livermore Honda was $373 and no one else sells or will work on the run flat PAX Michelin tires period. The service manager said the PAX tires have been their biggest goof in years as Honda is a company that does not mess up, they are careful and build wonder cars. I got a quote of Earl Schieb for $1,500 for new rims and 4 new tires. Problem is I have one brand new tire already on the van and one is still holding air so for the time being replacing 1 may do the trick. With fuel costs being so low I would enjoy driving the van again at least until I feel better, it certainly is less stressful and comfortable as well as safer that the ancient bug. So filling the tires with air was the highlight of the day. Financially the highlight was the big moment when I opened the mail and found a check for $500 for a relocation appraisal I did recently. That was great news!
So I've limped through this day but anticipating feeling better tomorrow I've taken the step in faith of making appointments out in the field. I have arranged the schedule so I have time in between properties to rest if I need to.
Steve was so kind to bring me a bottle of magic today that is getting good reports for helping with a variety of health issues plus just helping people feel better. It is called MONA-VIE and is a premier acai blend of 17 juices of fruits. One drinks 2 oz in the morning and 2 oz in the evening. For one thing it tastes great.
Lois has gone for a trip to visit her son Michael and his family in the Sacramento area but before leaving she brought me a new vaporizer. So that along with my little bottle of Vicks should help the night go better.
Overall I think I am better that 24 hours ago but I've coughed so intensely that my entire body is sore, raw and unsettled. The head started hurting after the first rough of coughing moments this morning and has throbbed all day. I've had little meals and I've managed to stretch a huge tomato over three meals now and I still have a little hunk left. Today I've had hot tea, let me tell you there is no shortage of tea in this house. Nan had assembled a huge collection of various types of herbal teas and some are pleasant and soothing to the throat.
The purchase of firewood at Safeway has come in handy today and the house has stayed above 65 all day. The fish tank being too cold was solved by a discovery of an unused heater just sitting in a pile under the tank in the cabinet. So I laid it in the bottom of the sump and after waiting a few minutes for it to settle temp wise plugged it in. Over the day the desired effect has resulted as it gradually lifted the temp to 76+, right where I want it for the winter. So another problem solved.
I had planned a trip this weekend to visit relatives in south Texas, Troys hockey team is playing on Saturday night and I had hoped to be there to experience the fun first hand. But after thinking over where I stood physically I have decided to put the trip off for a healthier day when flying would not pose a risk to my ears. Sometimes plans have to be changed so in the morning I'll call Southwest and put the tickets on hold for now.
It is now time to be in bed, the house is cooling as the fire has burned low. In spite of everything that happened today I am grateful for life, family and the chance to discover God's will. Thanks for the emails and kind words of encouragement, they do make a huge difference. Also thanks for the phone calls even though I was not able to hold very long conversations due to constant coughing. Thanks for the effort you made.

love to all

tim

Dr. Jim to the rescue

Dear Family and Friends,
Its nice to be writing to you this evening, this way I don't have to use my voice. When I try to talk I end up in spasms of coughing, gut wrenching experiences that now require I hold my tummy to reduce the pain of each cough. Family and friends had urged me to "see a doctor" and for me that means I call Jim first. A friend since PUC days he has seen me through lots of bouts of infections and illnesses. He is a special friend for another reason too. When he was a young guy he lost his wife and had to rebuild his life as a result. He is now a grandparent and he and Marti his wife of many years have built a beautiful life together. I find him a meaningful role model in many ways and he would often visit the hospital room when Nan would be there for a few days and we would talk into the night. What is it with doctors and not knowing when to go to bed? In college Jim would come back to his dorm room at 3 am after working a shift in the college bakery and he never came away empty handed, always with a beautiful loaf of wheat bread and we would eat and talk in the middle of the night.
Jim fitted me into a already bulging schedule of patients and checked things out well. He supplied some samples of Leviquin 750 mg which was sure nice. He also gave me a prescription for some new cough medicine, the bottle I've been using became outdated Feb of 2008. My co pay was only $10 for the bottle. Once I had arrived at the Safeway I was in a pretty wasted state. The codeine plus the hundreds of episodes of coughing had left me slumped over and I sort of shuffled through the store searching. My mission in the back of my mind was to locate and purchase Vicks Vapor rub and I never could find it in Safeway. So while I waited for the cough medicine to be prepared I shuffled next door to Longs and found the Vick's. So many of you had suggested that I try to "new miracle cure" of putting Vick's on my feet, covering it with soxs and then going to bed, well I decided to try it. I had a $20 dollar bill and had to keep thinking it through if I could buy the Vick's and the cough medicine or now, I find that when you shuffle through a store you pretty much get left alone, no one gets in your way. So I came home from the store with Vicks and the cough medicine and the twenty still in the wallet, so the credit card must have cleared. I don't remember all of that too well.
I came home to the cool house, excited dogs and the recliner. But the house smelled so good, what was it? And the kitchen light was on, had I left it on? Lois had left a homemade loaf of punpkin bread, wow is it good! So that and a couple slices of my bread with thin slices of a beef steak tomato, a little glass of orange juice and I settled into the recliner to snooze and watch CSI episodes from the DVR. I built a little fire which burned brightly while I slept. Finally I reluctantly climbed out from under the blanket and came here to the office to update the bank account, take my meds, share today's exciting events with you and head to bed. I am at a point now that I'll do almost anything to keep from coughing as it hurts from my knees up with each eruption. Jim thinks that I'll make a fast recovery and I know he is right. I have work piling up undone, this is no time to be ill.

So how has your day been? Are you enjoying the Christmas season? I sure like that channel 77 on the xm radio in the car, Christmas pops, wonderful music with NO commercials.

I want to share a little story about an incident that occured last evening after I had blogged. After slugging through appraisal work all day at my desk I had a growing frustration with the terrible quality of printouts I was getting from the printer. When Jim, my IT guy cleaned up my personal computer recently he found to his frustration that the HP 1000 that has always been connected to my computer would not work when he was through. Running out of time and needing to go to his next appointment he switched printers with one that sits unused in the lower office. Its a HP 1215 and is newer but of lower quality than the HP 1000 I am used to. But over the years we have all learned to our dismay that the HP 1000 is very cranky when first connected to a computer and over the years we have lost the CD that has the printer driver and instructions for installation.
Well last night I thought I would sure like to accomplish something, I'd like to get my HP 1000 working again since the print quality was so poor on the other one Jim has resorted to switching. So in spite of feeling a bit woozy I manhandled the computer off my desk and brought the right one back and began the process of trying to get it working. Hour after hour went by with no success. Nothing seemed to work. I went on HP website and looked at fixes, I tried every sequence of powering down the printer and then rebooting the computer, nothing would work. Finally in desperation I gave up and just left my computer turned off while I went to find something to eat, then someone called and we talked for awhile and during that time I turned the computer back on. I had prayed before I started the switch asking God for His help because I knew how impossible it was to get the HP going. I had resigned myself to having to move the printers back the way they had been and just put up with lousy print copy for awhile. On a whim I just asked the printer to print something out from my emails and it started to grind and then lights flashed and it began to print, problem solved. Even though it was such a little thing that moment of success seemed like a little miracle and brought tears to my eyes. Seems that for the HP it needs some time to completely load before it will work and I had accidentally given it just the right sequence to finally connect. Every page I have printed today gives me a tiny jolt of happiness remembering how close I was to giving up.
May you have a good evening and avoid this plague, its not fun.

love

tim

Rough day

Good evening,

Has evening finally arrived? I'm sure ready. After a great soak in a very warm spa last night a 30 minutes from heaven I slipped into a deep slumber. As I slept the fever broke and I woke up feeling some better, that was not to last. Serious coughing has controlled my entire day and as a result the chest is sore and its painful to move around. I've had a fire going part of the day to hold off the chill and had oatmeal for breakfast with my last orange, tasted great, tomato sandwich for lunch and who knows for dinner, soup sounds good again. Anything warm and gentle on the throat.

during the day I made a huge glass of lemonade but this time with warm water. That has tasted good as the time passed. I've been writing appraisals and every two hours going to the mailbox to check for checks, well finally a few minutes ago the mail came and there was a Readers Digest, an insurance bill but NO checks. I know a couple are in the works and I expected them last week so hope for tomorrow. Also there are a couple that I'm rumored to be able to collect either tonight or tomorrow locally.

I need to get out and see houses again but can't until I feel better, not fair to go into someones home and leave them these germs, not going to do that.

I am facing some minor issues, washing machine now leaks when you run a load, two tires on the van are losing air rapidly and need replacing, furnace has quit, firewood is running out, I have two pieces left now from my little pile but I have lots of scrap wood which burns quickly but warmly, my printer is printing mostly dark images on the page now, the main fish light fixture refused to light. Yet in spite of these minor little things that tend to stack up I'm warm as long as I'm near a space heater, I have good food in the frig and pantry, the bug runs well, I don't have to run the AC these days at all and the spa is hot, ready for another soaking. I think I will get better eventually health wise. Sure would be easy to do a pity party but would probably be a waste of time. Today is one year from the memorial service in Tracy where John and Karen did such a good job of reminding us all of Nan's amazing life.

Most of the time I survive by staying busy and just not thinking or by spending time with amazing friends that are so positive and uplifting. Its when I really stop to think, to consider that the life I once had with Nan is no more, that there is no hope of reclaiming it with Nan, that's a hard moment to cope with. However I do believe that life can be very good again, not the same, not the same script or the same plays but there are new life experiences and new scripts ahead and I have come to the place where I often consider that instead of just the lostness and pain. No one could ever step into Nan's shoes, no one needs to. They were filled very well by a vibrant lady for 55 years. Now they rest.

You can be forgiven if you don't understand why I say what I say sometimes. For some of you who have lost your special person you understand perfectly and can identify. Don't feel bad that you can't completely sympathize now, you don't need to. Its not something to be learned or anticipated, when it happens you will know very quickly and loving family and friends will help you through step by step and act by act. Some of the loving actions I have been on the receiving end of in the past year are so profound and thoughtful, they are overwhelming. That's why I look to the future, people do care and I need to as well. My loss is a year old now, others have more recent loses and they need tending to now.

The primary challenges I face at this point are financial and weight. My weight was down a whole lot this morning, there are advantages to being sick. It seems like I work as hard as I ever worked in the past yet the income never catches up with the challenges, at least not yet. However in the past two weeks I have picked up another local lender who used to order years ago and are back now so I'm trying to go the extra mile to help make their deals work out well and demonstrate that I do care for people. Of course its a lot easier when you aren't sick like today.

I would appreciate your prayers as I face some challenging issues right now and I think you in advance for the prayers.

I thought I'd share a photo of the Christmas decorations in the front yard. What do you think? Where is Marilyn Titherington when you need her. The deer are her creation and they need her!

Good night to all,

love

tim

Sick day

Greetings
Well after successfully dodging colds and flu something has caught up with me. As I sit here and write I think I'm better than this morning, not sure really.
I woke to a house that was 59 degrees. I built a fire and turned on little space heaters which are such a blessing. In a short time the wood stove began to produce heat and the chill factor left the room. I also decided to turn on my spa and when I just checked it it is 100 degrees right now. I'm looking forward to enjoying some soaking time there pretty soon. I think it might help some of the sore and aching muscles. Sylvia's mom suggested Mucliex (sp) so when I was at Longs I got some. I also purchased a little bottle of orange juice which I usually do not drink because of all the sugar it has in it.
When I went to the living room I found the reef tank totally dark. Thinking it was the timers I checked them out but they were working. For some strange reason all 4 bulbs had quit working. The tank cannot continue to thrive in the dark so later in the day I drove to San Ramon to a really helpful fish store and ask for new bulbs. He installed them but they would not come on, something in the switches or wiring has failed. I went ahead and purchased a small fish light assembly to they would have some light and I thought between Steve and I we can make the defective system work again. Now I'm back home getting ready to work the evening shift, the fish have light again and the dryer is doing its thing. I've felt pretty crummy all day between coughing and aching. Last night about half way through the night I just got tired of being cold so I finally screwed up enough courage to venture out of bed in the cold and brave the shivers and shakes that immediately set in and find another blanket to add to the stack. I doubled it up and what a difference it made, like a warm little nest for the rest of the night. Starr approved.
So far today 4 appraisals have gone out, of those three were helped by Jean a great deal. Now if only they would pay for what we have already submitted to them. Its now in the thousands of dollars owed.
I will write yet another one tonight before the spa. I'm considering some soup, sounds good along with some toast.
When I was out this evening I found about everything I needed. A fire starter of my own, dog treats, flax seed, fiber, grillers, OJ. I think I'm set for a couple days.
It is a different experience to be sick and be alone. I know many of you experience that all the time so I'm not unique. It is not fun though. I hope to feel much better by tomorrow and I've ask for the Lord's help.
I have about 10 pieces of solid wood left to burn and an abundance of scrap wood so for the time being I should be able to stay warm. Before long I'll have to consider finding wood somewhere.
Today is one year since we laid Nan to rest in the Union Cemetery and tomorrow will be one year since the memorial service. I'm not sure if the term, time heals all things is correct but time does help put memories in perspective and the daily grind of living and surviving eclipses trips down memory lane for hours and sometimes days at a time. The opportunity of meeting people in their homes and drawing out their stories brings meaning to daily life. Not all people I meet are interesting, some are just rude or cold but most respond to genuine questions and comments on photos of family members, about daily living and about the current financial challenges we all face.
All in all I like my life now, I used to love life but for now I think liking it is enough. If I could somehow move beyond the constant threat of financial ruin I would actually be much more prone to enjoy life. Sometimes I have lots of COD work and that gives me cash flow to cope with bills, but over the past three weeks nearly all the work has been invoice, that means a wait of 3 to 6 weeks to be paid if at all. I used to like having a bunch on the books for a rainy day, now every day is rainy and whats on the books is not help at all until it comes to the mailbox.
I hope you are enjoying the season, the music has been wonderful so far and the lights everyone else has up are great. Myself, well I have three reindeer lying on their sides in the front yard. So far no time or inclination to decorate. Am I a scrooge?

love

tim

Incredible day

Dear Family and Friends,

In spite of waking up feeling ill this morning this day has turned out very enjoyable. I'm not sure what hit me during the night but this morning when I woke I felt every muscle and found them a bit sore. Yesterday's little ride on the Nordic Track Ski Machine really did a job on me. Plus I felt like I had a bit of fever. When I tried to build a fire to create some heat, the house was 59 degrees I could not locate a match in the entire house. Finally in desperation I went next door to Ken and LeAnns place and found a BBQ starter device which I borrowed. In just a few minutes the fire had raised the room to 70 and things felt cozy. As time passed I realized I needed to shower and get on the road for church. I arrived at church very late but enjoyed the part of the sermon I heard, a conference guy who really communicated well. Then Becky and Dick hosted a lunch for guests which was great. Later this afternoon several of us went to see the Black Nativity. Sylvia had arranged tickets and her mother, she and I sat near the front. What an incredible performance by an excellent choir and wonderful soloists. The total program lasted nearly 3 hours but moved so fast and was so good that the time passed quickly. The theater is renovated and is beautiful. It was a very enjoyable experience. Then we walked across the street to the Thai place for some very good food. Now I'm home and thanks to a couple pills Sylvia supplied my fever is breaking and I'm starting to feel better.

When you get to see black singers in action one realizes that we are sure uptight in the way we do music. Wow they really convey a message.

Now I'm heading to bed to see if a good night of rest will beat this illness. Sure hope so as I have lots of work to do tomorrow and its up to me to get it done. No time to be sick.

This morning when I had the fire burning I decided it was time to watch the DVD of the graveside service from a year ago. That was an experience. Shawn did an excellent job of shooting the video, really very good. But I found the reliving of the experience to be very traumatic. I was warmed by seeing the friends and business associates who came to support the family and remember Nan. I was touched by pastor Jim's words and the music was really outstanding. I had not been able to bring myself to watch the DVD all year and I wanted to watch it before I sent it out to friends and family. Now I can do that. It was not an easy experience to go through this morning and many tears fell. Tomorrow is one year since the graveside service took place.

This evening someone sent some lovely photos taken at Kim Conner's wedding. Photos of Nan holding a very new baby Keanna. Nan looked great in the photos and I really appreciate who ever sent them. Thanks so much.

I sense that I am more and more allowing Nan to rest. Photos like those I have included stir a nice reminder of a very good life that once was. I am so thankful for my precious kids and their kids to keep me grounded in the here and now.

Good night friends and family,

love to all

tim